“Do it again.” “What, you forgot the words?” “You sounded flat right there.” “You need to hear it again?”
I am back from recording again at Osceola Studios with the man who’s been dubbed the “career assassin”. That would be Dick Hodgin.
Today, I recorded Peel Me A Grape, As Time Goes By, and Cry Me A River. All sounds that I just adore. In the end, after recording each song three times, it all came out the way I wanted them to.
I truly am in awe at the way the masters mix the work. Dick picks the best of the 3 songs.. editing bits and pieces of each into one masterpiece– it’s going to get a little more magic sprinkled on it before it’s released.
It’s good on my end that we aren’t recording and mixing all the songs at once. I am getting a chance to think and reflect on what I brought to the session. Today I am left with a feeling that I held back.. that I didn’t go full out.. that I played it safe. Still, it was better than the first time out last week.
The game plan for NEXT time: To bring some more upbeat tracks to the studio.. and leave with no regrets.
This will be a challenge for me. At least that is what I’m thinking right now. I am not blown away by any of the more up tempo songs I’ve performed since I’ve been singing. It might mean learning some new material before I go back in.
Say, if you’re following this journey of mine, and can think of jazzy tunes that have a swing, I’m all ears!
Onward + Upward!
It has been a super week on the musical journey front.
I have begun the work of recording an album.
What was this feeling of nervousness that invaded my body? It wasn’t typical for me. I am generally so jazzed about any opportunity to sing, I leap into song with great gusto and glee. No nerves.. just joy.
Now that I’m in it, I’ve come to believe that it was more excitment than fear, for I’ve longed to push this journey along for some time now. It doesn’t feel good to be stuck. Blocked.
The session went well and I like what I am learning. For one thing, this is just a baby step in the world of recording. Singing to backing tracks is night and day from having talented muscians backing you up. One day, some day. I have to leave it like that because that’s so far down the road for me, I can’t even see it!
We worked on three songs at Osceola Studios: Fever, Besame Mucho, and California Dreamin’. Dick allowed me to record each song three times and we (he) picked the one that sounded best.. after blending parts from all three tracks. I enjoyed watching him make that happen. There will be some more “cleaning it up” work before we call it finished.
There are 3 more songs to work on when I return to the studio. I am not as confident about the last three songs as I was at the beginning of this process.
I plan to replace at least one song.. maybe two of them.
Initially I didn’t feel like I wanted to end the recording session. We were on a roll. But you know what they say: Things happen for a reason. I’m glad now that we stopped and I’ve had a chance to rethink my final 3.
Dick allowed me to hear some other “artists” he’s working with, as he burned me a copy of the songs I’d recorded.
I heard a Christian/Gospel/ Soul Inspiration singer who is awesome. Dick told me he’s been working with her for a year to produce her project. A year! But you know something? The sound was in a word superb. The musicians were tight, and she was rock solid.
It allowed me to see and hear how far I have to go in this journey.
This is my start. I am recording my first CD. Today I will be proud and satisfied with that.
Onward + Upward!!